Kukla's Korner Hockey

In each of the last two seasons, HBO’s “24/7: Road to the N.H.L. Winter Classic” series has brought new viewers to the N.H.L., thanks to its storytelling, production values and access.

Like many successful endeavors in the pro ranks — from the two-referee system to the left-wing lock — the ripple effect of “24/7” is now being felt in amateur hockey.

At least a dozen of the 58 Division I men’s hockey programs, including several that will begin play in the N.C.A.A. tournament this weekend, have featured some sort of all-access broadcast this season. Some have been produced in-house, like North Dakota’s weekly Web feature “Through These Doors,” while others have welcomed outsiders into their locker room, like Miami University’s “College Hockey Confidential” on CBS Sports Network.

In each case, for college programs, these initiatives are about more than attracting new fans — they also serve as a recruiting tool.